This book addresses a gap in the academic and professional literature in the area of criminal justice social work.

This compilation explores the scope of responsibilities undertaken by social workers in the field of criminal law in India when dealing with clients who are either offenders or victims of crime. It provides an in-depth understanding of the socio-structural, legal and practical challenges faced by Indian criminal justice social workers.

The book encourages social work professionals and students to consider three major areas: encouraging education and training in this subject; protecting the human rights of offenders and victims of crime; and addressing mental illness within the criminal justice system. It hopes to demystify social work in the area of criminal justice, particularly because of the stigma attached to it, given the potentially coercive enforcement of criminal law alongside the traditional ethos of social work being primarily about ‘caring’, ‘empathy’ and ‘empowerment’.

The criminal justice system in the country is not in good health. Many undertrials remain lodged in jail for years awaiting their day in court. Then there is the general perception that the justice system fails rape survivors. In such a situation, a book like this would be of immense help in preparing aspiring social workers for the harsh realities they will encounter in the Indian criminal justice system.